Sheet conveying mechanisms



Filed June 15, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet l hwzwme STA/v1 5y fie/m4 w Fey April 1966 s. R. FRY

SHEET CONVEYING MECHANISMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MT I; E a.

Filed June 15, 1964 STANLEY REGINALD Fey April 26, 1966 s. R. FRY

SHEET CONVEYING MECHANISMS 3 Sheets-Sheet i:

Filed June 15, 1964 9 m 1 L m. w 3 I W mm mm mm 2 9 3 A mm 9m 2 2 N w @N F v |Q... 9 l #V L1 m m N 8 Q 0v Smms fie/1mm fey Arr- United States Patent 3,248,106 SHEET CONVEYING MECHANISMS Stanley Reginald Fry, Letchworth, England, assignor to Cameo (Machinery) Limited, Hertfordshire, England, a British company Filed June 15, 1964, Ser. No. 375,252 Claims priority, application Great Britain, June 17, 1963,

24,074 8 Claims. (Cl. 271-52) are disposed transversely across the width dimension' of the feed table with the axes of such rolls equi-spaced from one another in a common horizontal plane and then to drive all of the rolls at the same peripheral speed as by means of a flexible belt loop arranged to contact the underside of each roll. It is also well known to provide such a feed table with a vertical side lay plate at one side of the table and to incline the respective axes of the parallel feed rolls at a slight angle with respect to thedirection which is perpendicular to tht sheet, feed direction, whereby, as the paper sheet is carried forwardly by contact with the upper surface of the rotating rolls, it is also constantly urged sidewards into contact with the side lay plate.

-In certain types of sheet handling machinery, particularly sheet folding machines in which the sheet is passed through the nip between a pair of parallel folding rollers, it becomes important, as the operating speed of the machine is increased, that the arriving sheet shall be presented centrally to the folding rollers, that is to say, the longitudinal centre line of the sheet shall coincide with the centre point of the folding rollers since any deviation from such centralised position whereby t'he sheet is nearer one end of the rollers than the other leads to some degree of inequality of the pressure exerted upon the folded sheet at its opposite sides as a result of which puckering or buckling of the sheet may occur accompanied, maybe, with some degree of unequal speed of delivery at opposite sides of the folded sheet so that the latter become skewed or otherwise displaced on the means by which it is subsequently conveyed to furtherhandling mechanism, for instance, another and adjacent folding roller system.

In order to allow for alteration of the position of the conveyed sheet, relative to the width of the feed table, it has already been proposed to make the aforementioned side lay plate movable in a direction parallel with the feeder roll axes relative to the rolls themselves which rotate' in fixed positions. This involves either the shaping of the lower edge of the lay plate to interfit between each pair of adjacent rolls or the provision of a lip or flange along the bottom edge of the lay plate at a position lying just above the level of the tops of the rolls.

Both arrangements have disadvantages in effecting accurate control of the lay plate position and by reason of the conveyed sheet either tending, in the first mentioned construction, to catch by its adjacent leading corner under the shaped edge of the lay plate or, in

the second mentioned or lipped construction, in having "ice the side lay plate is adjustable transversely with respect to the table so that the conveyed sheet may be accurately centralised with relation to the folding or other mechanism to which it is being delivered.

In accordance with the invention the previously used continuous feed rol-ls extending from one side of the feed table to the other are dispensed with and replaced by a series of shorter rolls mounted, as before, with their axes eqni-spaced in 'a common horizontal plane and slightly inclined with respect to the direction which is at right angles to the required feed direction, such series (if-shortened feed rolls being mounted in a common carriage along with the adjacent side lay plate and such carriage being made movable bodily to any desired position transversely with respect to the required sheet feeding direction, preferably under the conrtol of screw or other fine adjustment mechanism which permits the placing of the carriage and associated side lay plate accurately in any desired transverse position.

In a preferred form and to assist in proper conveyance of the sheet, a second similar series of shortened feed rolls also mounted in a common carriage is provided on the opposite side of the feed table and is likewise made movable transversely across the table so that such second series of feed rolls may be positioned to underlie and serve to provide a balancing forward propulsion of that side edge of the conveyed sheet which is opposite to that in contact with the side lay plate.

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more readily understood one particular practical embodiment will now be described by way- FIGURE 3 is a further fragmentary vertical crosssectional view taken on the line III-HI of FIG. lb.

Referring to the drawings the sheet feed table comprises a stationary framework including two horizontal side frame members 10 joined by horizontal transverse bearer bars 11 at or near each of their ends. On each of "such transverse bars 11 is secured a transverse support bar 40 for slidably supporting the ends of a carriage framework indicated generally at 1'2.

' Such carriage framework comprises two longitudinal side members 13 held in parallel spaced relationship by transverse spacer bars 41 secured to their undersides and by end plates 42, 43 secured to their upper edges. Between said side members 13 a-re disposed a plurality of relatively short feed rolls 14 freely rotatable at each end in bearing bushes 44 secured in the side members 13. The rolls are so arranged that their respective axes lie in a common horizontal plane and with such axes parallel to one another but slightly inclined, as shown, to the direction which is at right angles to the required sheet feed direction, the latter being indicated by the arrow a. Mounted on said carriage framework 12 is a .side lay plate 15 which extends over the whole length of the carriage. This lay plate is integral with a top plate 16 which, as shown more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, overlies the outward ends of the feed rolls 14 at a suitable spacing distance thereabove, such top plate 16- is provided in the usual way with a series of flanged apertures 17, each in vertical alignment with the axis of a related one of the feed rolls for the reception therein of a loose ball 18 whose weight operates to keep any sheet lying on top of the feed rolls, as indicated at S in FIG. 2, in driving contact with the latter.

The feed rolls 14 are arranged to be rotated in unison, each in the same direction and at the same peripheral speed, by the contact of their nndersides with the upper run 19a of an endless belt loop 19 which passes around rollers 20, 21 at its opposite ends. Between alternate pairs of the feed rolls 14 the upper run 19a of' such belt loop passes over jockey rollers 45- positioned so as to lift the belt 19 intodriving contact with the underside of the two immediately adjacent feed rolls 14. The various jockey rollers 45 are disposed for free rotation about axes parallel with those of the feed rolls 14 and are each mounted upon short spindles secured at one end in an inclined bar 46 which is also secured by its underside to the spacer bars 41. The end roller 21 supporting the belt loop 19 is similarly mounted upon a short spindle secured in the bar 46 but the opposite end roller 20 is rigidly secured to a spindle 22' rotatably mounted in a bearing block 25. To the opposite end of the spindle 22 is rigidly secured a bevel gear 23 in constant meshing engagement with a second bevel gear 24 which is also rigidly interconnected with an internally splined or keyed sleeve 47 mounted in a freely rotatable but axially immovable manner in the bearing block 25. The bearing block 25 is rigidly secured by way of integral flanges 48 to the inward one of the side members 13 of the carriage structure.

The sleeve 47 and hencethe bevel gear 24 is in splined or similar slidable driving connection with a transverse drive shaft 26 which is journalled at each end in bearing blocks 49 mounted'on the side frame members .10. This drive shaft 26 is provided at one end with a sprocket wheel 27 'or equivalent means by which it may be driven at an appropriate speed from a suitable power drive source, usually one linked to or forming the drive means for the paper sheet folding or other machine to which sheets are being delivered by the sheet feed table now be ing described. I At a point near the centre of the length of the carriage framework 12 and as shown more clearly in FIG.

- 2, the side members 13 of the carriage frameworkhave secured thereto by means of flanges 50, two bearing bushes 28 each of which is internally screw threaded for engagement with the threaded section 29a of a screwthreaded transverse adjusting spindle 29. Such spindle 29 is mopnted in a rotatable but axially immovable manner in the side frame members 10 by means of suitable bearing members 30. The spindle 29 projects beyond its associated bearing block 30 at one end and has a control knob 32 secured thereon for manual rotation of such spindle thereby to cause transverse movement of the carriage framework 12 bodily across the feed table. The outer bush 28 is provided with an upwardly directed clamping screw 31, which screw is engagea-ble by its lower end with the spindle 29 and serves to lock such spindle and the carriage framework in any desired adjustment position.

In the operation of the arrangements so far described, the carriage framework 12 with the side lay plate 15 and all of the feed rolls 14 can be moved in unison transversely across the width of the feed table by effecting suitable rotation of the screwed spindle 29 by means of its control knob 32 whereby the operative vertical surface of the side lay plate 15 is correctly positioned to ensure delivery of the conveyed sheet at the required, e.g., centralised, location to the subsequent sheet folding mechanism. At whatever position the carriage may thus be located, the various feed rolls 14 thereof, which are moved bodily with the rest of the carriage, are always rotated by the endless belt loop 19 through the geared connection of bevel gears 23 and 24'and the splined connection of sleeve 47, to'the constantly rotating drive shaft 26.

To permit precise alignment of the side lay plate 15 7 1 4': r with the required direction of sheet feeding, i.e. as indicated by the arrow 0, such lay plate is made capable of slight rocking movement in a horizontal plane. To

this end an adjusting screw 39 extending between the side lay plate and the adjacent side member 13 of the carriage 12 with a spring 52 interposed between the lay plate'and the said side member is preferably provided at one end with a fixed bolt connection 53 at the opposite end to allow a controlled amount of angular-movement of the side lay plate relative .to the carriage framework.

A series of longitudinal U-section sheet supporting bars 38, each supported at each end in the transverse I support bars 40, is disposed to lie with the upper surfaces of the bars in a horizontal plane only very slightly below the plane common to the uppermost surface lines of the rolls 14. Such bars serve to support that part of the sheet which does not overlie the rolls 14. The bars are arranged with their two spaced-apart side limb edges facing the sheet.

In the preferred form shown in FIGS 1a and 1b a second similar series of shortened feed rolls 33 are work. Such second carriage framework 34 is provided. with hearing bushes 51similar to those of 28 on the first carriage framework 12. These are internally threaded for engagement with a second threaded section 29b on the screwed spindle 29. The threaded sections 29a, 29b have respectively opposite right and left hand threads so that both feed roll supporting carriages are moved simultaneously towards or away from the centre line of the feed table by adjustment of the single control knob 32.. This second series of feed rolls and the associated carriage serve to support the opposite edge of the sheet and to apply a forward propulsive force thereto substantially.

equal to that provided by the first set of rolls 14.

The horizontal bars 38 are made readily adjustable.

as to their position, asby means of clamping screw connections to the support bars. 40, so that they may be located at suitable spaced intervals across the width of.

the feed table and in accordance with the actual spacing between the two feed roll suporting carriages 12 and 34. If desired a second series of U-section bars may be dis posed above the level of the conveyed sheet to prevent its inadvertent. displacement.

The provision of such second carriage with its feed rolls avoidsany tendency for the opposite or unlaid edge The use of shortened feed rolls at one or both sides of the table has been found advantageous compared with the conventional full width rolls .in avoiding a frequently.

present tendency with known constructions for the side of the sheet oposi-te that in contact with a single side lay plate to be overdriven whereby there is excessive side thrust by the sheet on the lay plate and a tendency for 1 the laid edge to turn and climb the lay plate.

Instead of arranging for simultaneous adjustment of both carriages and their associated lay plates and feed rolls by rotation of a common spindle 29 is already described, such carriagesrwith their associated parts may be made independently adjustable, such as by dividing the spindle 29 at the central point and supporting it at frame parts of the table.

32 at their outer ends.

I claim: 1. A feed table for paper sheets which comprises a These feed rolls 33 are disposed as in thestationary supporting. framework defining a sheet conveyance path, a supporting carriage adjustably movable in said framework in a direction transverse to said conveyance path direction, a plurality of separate feed rolls each of a length less than the minimum width of the sheet to be conveyed, rotatably mounted in said carriage with their respective axes parallel and equi-spaced in a common horizontal plane and slightly inclined with respect to the direction which is at right angles to the direction of said conveyance path, a side lay plate also secured to said carriage to extend adjacent one end of each of said rolls and parallel with said conveyance path direction, an endless belt loop carried by said supporting carriage and arranged frictionally toengage with the underside with each of said plurality of rolls, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said supporting framework and disposed parallel with the transverse direction of adjustment movement of said carriage and an axially slidable drive coupling between said shaft and said belt loop to allow rotation of said loop and each of said rolls at a common peripheral speed by rotation of said drive shaft at any transverse adjustment position of said carriage.

2. A feed table according to claim '1 in which said side lay plate is mounted on said carriage in a manner permitting controlled angular displacement in a horizontal plane for bringing it into precise alignment with the required conveyance path direction.

3. A feed table according to claim 1 in which said side lay plate includes a top plate overlying the adjacent ends of said feed rolls, said top plate having apertures therein in vertical alignment with the axes of the diflerent rolls for the reception of balls to bias the conveyed sheet into frictional contact with said feed rolls.

4. A feed table according to claim 1 which includes a plurality of stationary sheet supporting bars disposed parallel with said conveyance path direction in a common horizontal plane substantially coincident Wth the plane which lies tangential to the uppermost surfaces of said feed rolls, said sheet supporting bars being mounted in said supporting framework to lie beneath that area of the conveyed sheet which is not supported by said feed rolls.

5. A feed table according to claim 4 in which said sheet supporting bars are independently adjustable in position on said supporting framework.

6. A' feed table according to claim 4 in which said supporting bars are of U-section and disposed to support the conveyed sheet by the upper edges of the opposite side limbs thereof.

7. A feed table according to claim 1 which comprises a second supporting carriage also adjustably movable in said supporting framework in a direction parallel with that of said first carriage on the opposite side of the centre line of said framework, said second carriage having a second plurality of feed rolls rotatably mounted therein together with a second belt loop and a second axially slidable drive coupling between said second belt loop and said drive shaft.

8. A feed table according to claim 7 which includes a transverse spindle rotatably mounted in said framework, said spindle having opposite hand screw threads on each side of the centre line of said framework, two internally screw threaded members secured one to each of said carriages and in engagement respectively with the opposite hand screw threaded portions of said spindle to provide simultaneous transverse adjustment movement of said carriages in mutually opposed directions upon rotation of said spindle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,385,654 7/1921 Bacon 27152 1,413,245 4/ 1922 Trautman 27152 1,708,157 4/1929 Spiess 27152 2,190,418 2/ 1940 Davidson 271-52 2,699,941 l/ 1955 Huck 271-49 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Examiner.

J. ERLICH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FEED TABLE FOR PAPER SHEETS WHICH COMPRISES A STATIONARY SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK, DEFINING A SHEET CONVEYANCE PATH, A SUPPORTING CARRIAGE ADJUSTABLY MOVABLE IN SAID FRAMEWORK IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID CONVEYANCE PATH DIRECTION, A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE FEED ROLLS EACH OF A LENGTH LESS THAN THE MINIMUM WIDTH OF THE SHEET TO BE CONVEYED, ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CARRIAGE WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE AXES PARALLEL AND EQUI-SPACED IN A COMMON HORIZONTAL PLANE AND SLIGHTLY INCLINED WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION WHICH IS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE DIRECTION OF SAID CONVEYANCE PATH, A SINGLE LAY PLATE ALSO SECURED TO SAID CARRIAGE TO EXTEND ADJACENT ONE END OF EACH OF SAID ROLLS AND PARALLEL WITH SAID CONVEYANCE PATH DIRECTION, AN ENDLESS BELT LOOP CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTING CARRIAGE AND ARRANGED FRICTIONALLY TO ENGAGE WITH THE UNDERSIDE WITH EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF ROLLS, A DRIVE SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK AND DISPOSED PARALLEL WITH THE TRANSVERSE DIRECTION OF ADJUSTMENT MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE AND AN AXIALLY SLIDABLE DRIVE COUPLING BETWEEN SAID SHAFT AND SAID BELT LOOP TO ALLOW ROTATION OF SAID LOOP AND EACH OF SAID ROLLS AT A COMMON PERIPHERAL SPEED BY ROTATION OF SAID DRIVE SHAFT AT ANY TRANSVERSE ADJUSTMENT POSITION OF SAID CARRIAGE. 